Neighbors: Winter Carnival fun, even in the rain

Well, except for a little rain on Sunday it certainly was a nice weekend.

I took a nice walk along Main Street in Greenfield on Friday evening to admire the intricate work of some wonderful local artists as I stopped at each ice sculpture. I’d suggest you all find time to get to Greenfield and see them before they melt. I’m not going to tell you which one is my favorite, because I haven’t decided.

On Saturday, I spent the day with twin grandsons Owen and Travis. Daughter Christina and I spent some time with them in their back yard, where Owen got to ride Christina’s horse Wiseguy for a while — and yes, she kept him safe and took every precaution.

On Sunday, it was Grandma and Justin’s turn to spend time together. First, we had breakfast with Frosty at the 99 Restaurant (part of Greenfield’s Winter Carnival events) and later headed to Beacon Field where Justin stood in awe of the bonfire and stopped to visit with a couple of the dogs getting ready to participate in the K9 Keg Pull — always such a fun event, and it raises money for a good cause, Paws Park, which is raising money to build a dog park here in town.

Even with the rain on Sunday afternoon, it was a nice time at Greenfield’s Winter Carnival. But then again, it always is.

A big thanks to Recreation Director Christy Moore and all of the organizers and volunteers who helped bring one more successful event to us. That’s what makes Greenfield the welcoming and fun place it is and that’s why people like me love to live here.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH at 43 Silver St. in Greenfield will hold its Chocolate Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You will find hand-dipped strawberries, chocolate-dipped fruit, pretzels, Oreos, marshmallows, and more. There will also be a chocolate fountain — yum! Proceeds from the benefit will go to the church.

GREENFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY will hold a special book sale in time for Valentine’s Day. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the LeVanway Room, I’m told you will have a wonderful selection to choose from for your sweetheart — and after you make your purchases, the library will offer some free books.

AN EXHIBIT OF MORE THAN 50 19th- and 20th-century photos reproduced by the Swift River Valley Historical Society will open in the Great Hall at Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls on Saturday and there will be a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. You are cordially invited to attend the reception, which is free and open to the public.

“Children of the Swift River Valley” will feature 19th-century studio backdrops painted by Northfield Elementary Students under the direction of their art teacher Althea Dabrowski.

The exhibit will be on display through March 29 every Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 413-863-3221.

THE ROUTE 63 ROADHOUSE pub will hold a celebration of Tina and Ed Dlugos, who owned the Montague Inn for years, on Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. There will be snacks and music by Electric Carnival.

UNITED CHURCH OF BERNARDSTON at 58 Church St. in Bernardston will hold its Second Saturday Roast Beef Supper on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. — there will be two seatings, at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Take-outs are available. For reservations, call 413-648-9306.

FOR THOSE OF YOU with dogs that have long toenails, Franklin County Sheriff’s Regional Dog Shelter at 10 Sandy Lane in Turners Falls will hold a nail-trimming clinic on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Megan from Mighty Clean Mutts in Greenfield will provide a trim for $10, but only for dogs.

Proceeds will go to the shelter. Dogs must be leashed.

For more information, call 413-676-9182.

YOU LADIES 60 and older living in the 10 West County towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe and Shelburne, are invited to participate in a limited opportunity to join a local women’s fitness center and have half of your cost covered by Friends of the West County Seniors.

The group will share the $102 fee with you, so you will pay $51 and Friends will pay $51. The program ends on Feb. 15, so call Amy Herzig at 413-624-3417 or Lynne Kelsey at 413-625-6641 to sign up.

OUR NEIGHBOR ESTELLE CADE told me that the St. Andrews Episcopal Church (Turners Falls) Souper Sunday project collected 160 cans of soup donated by generous parishioners. They will be given to the Survival Center Food Pantry this week.

I ALSO LEARNED RECENTLY that the NELCWIT Bowl-athon that was held a couple of weekends ago raised more than $12,000, with more than 100 bowlers participating in the event to raise money for the nonprofit, which will use it to serve adults and children dealing with domestic violence.

Sounds like a fun way to help those in need, so think about that when NELCWIT comes looking for bowlers again next year.

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.